Oregon Benches Raiola in Loss to UCLA, Vows Offense Review

The University of Oregon benched starting quarterback Dylan Raiola during a 17-15 loss to the University of California, Los Angeles, prompting head coach Dan Lanning to announce a comprehensive evaluation of the team’s offensive strategy and personnel.

The home defeat dropped 13th-ranked Oregon to a 3-2 overall record and 1-1 in Big Ten conference play. UCLA, ranked 21st, maintained an undefeated record of 5-0 overall and 3-0 in the conference.

Raiola Struggles Before Fourth-Quarter Replacement

Raiola, a transfer from Nebraska, was pulled at the start of the fourth quarter after turning the ball over three times. He completed 6 of 19 passes for 43 yards, throwing two interceptions and losing one fumble during his three quarters on the field.

The performance contrasted with Raiola’s previous game against the University of Southern California, when he entered after starting quarterback Dante Moore sustained a concussion and threw for 289 yards and two touchdowns to secure an Oregon victory.

Third-string quarterback Brock Thomas replaced Raiola for the fourth quarter against UCLA. Thomas completed 11 passes and threw a late touchdown to Evan Stewart to bring Oregon within two points. However, UCLA stopped Oregon’s subsequent two-point conversion attempt to preserve the win.

Coaching Staff Promises Full Offensive Review

Speaking after the game, Coach Lanning took responsibility for the offensive struggles and acknowledged that the team failed to adequately prepare Raiola for the matchup.

We didn’t prepare him to be good enough today, Lanning said regarding Raiola’s performance.

Lanning stated that the coaching staff will evaluate all components of the offense, including first-year offensive coordinator and playcaller Drew Mehringer. He noted that the team lacked success across all phases of offensive play, citing potential issues with play selection and practice execution.

Quarterback Availability Remains Uncertain

Oregon’s long-term choice at quarterback remains open. While Raiola’s position as starter is under review, original starter Dante Moore’s return date remains unconfirmed following his concussion against USC.

Although Moore has resumed practicing in pads and throwing passes, Lanning emphasized that the program will proceed cautiously with medical evaluations before permitting him to return to game action.

Background

American college football teams compete within athletic conferences to secure spots in national postseason playoff tournaments. Oregon and UCLA both compete in the Big Ten, one of the top athletic conferences in the United States college system.